While NWN! has immense respect for and was highly influenced by much of the Black Metal output of the 1990’s, very little of it still retains as much of its original allure as that created by Mexico’s earliest masters, Xibalba. Those who are familiar with their only album, “Ah Dzam Poop Ek”, originally released by the infamous Guttural Records in 1994, already know what to expect. This is Black Metal distilled to its most primitive essence. “Ancients” features the 1992 “In Lucescitae Tristis Hiei” demo as well as a rehearsal recording from 1994. While drawing their musical inspiration from the same sources as the Norwegian Black Metal pioneers of the early 1990’s (Bathory, Hellhammer, Sodom, etc.), Xibalba turned toward the ancient traditional Mayan culture for guidance in their rejection of the Catholic plague infesting Mexico. The result is Raw Black Metal perfection similar in some ways to their contemporaries, but still distinctively Xibalba. While technically simple, Xibalba focus on chord progressions so distinctive and clear that the listener is instantly captivated. Rather than overdrive the recording with heavy distortion and a blown-out mix, the instruments are all clear and crisp thus allowing the chords and notes to blend seamlessly to produce a lush and pure and, at times, epic sound not dissimilar to Darkthrone. Furthermore, Xibalba rely heavily on rudimentary heavy rock riffs that keep the music firmly grounded in the metal traditions that originally spawned the Black Metal movement. The vocals, however, often delivered in the tongue of their Mayan ancestors, evoke a sinister hostility that summons the valiant warrior spirit of the ancients to avenge the deaths of the majestic ancient cultures at the hands of the puny and wretched christian vermin that spread through the land leaving behind their legions of weak-minded slaves. “Ancients” comes in high quality jacket with double sided poster insert. Die Hard version comes on green vinyl and features an extra 7” that includes two 1992 rehearsal tracks never before released, and an embroidered patch and sticker.
**Die Hard version with a bonus 7″ will be out in two weeks or less.

HELLIAS “Revenge of Hellias” LP
ANTI-GOTH 094

“Revenge of Hellias” is the demo that the Polish Evil Thrash maniacs Hellias recorded in 1988. Not to be confused with the Cassette EP released the same year, “Night of Damnation”, which was reissued on vinyl last year by NWN!, this demo is nothing short of sinister thrash mastery. Vicious and wicked, Hellias do not play fun thrash made for crossover wimps. This is metal made to summon the darkness and annihilate the light. The riffs are fast, heavy, and played with precision and nothing is overly distorted or intentionally obscured. The vocals and lyrics are intensely evil approaching a sound reminiscent of the earliest Black Metal. The end result is a sound that sears the mind and rips the flesh. Hellias has been criminally overlooked for years and now NWN! is seeking to breathe new death into the air by completing the release of the two earliest recordings by this legendary band. Comes on black vinyl and includes pro-printed color poster and pro-printed zine style booklet. Die Hard comes on colored vinyl and also includes patch and sticker.
**Die Hard version with patch and sticker will be out in two weeks or less.

DAMAAR “Triumph Through Spears of Sacrilege” MCD
ANTI-GOTH 081

While most bands fantasize about war and glorify violence they have never witnessed, Damaar hail from Lebanon where war perpetually looms. Furthermore, Damaar’s devotion to metal can hardly be questioned. In order to protect themselves from retaliation by the government, they were forced to distribute their demo by mp3 rather than tape or CD. Thus in the face powerful religious zealots, Damaar persisted in pursuing its evil directives. After relocating to Australia, Damaar was able to finally send out a proper (non-mp3) master and collect artwork for the vinyl release of their demo on NWN! This assault is pure aural bestial blasphemy in the style of Black Witchery, Revenge and others. Conceptually, Damaar invoke anti-religious warfare towards all those weak and feeble-minded followers of all false gods. The band is currently inactive following its move to Australia and its future is uncertain. Nonetheless, this crushingly violent demo now preserved on vinyl will ensure that Damaar is ranked prominently among the bestial legions.

MORBOSIDAD “Morbosidad / Cojete a Dios Por el Culo” CD
ANTI-GOTH 098

Since the early days of NWN!, Morbosidad has been one of the bands most closely allied with the label. Now, in 2008, Morbosidad stands poised to declare unholy war once more with its monstrous third album. In anticipation of their ungodly return, NWN! has reissued the first two chapters of the Morbosidad history on one CD. The self-titled first album, released in 2000 and now long out of print, is finally available once again for those who care to venture into the darkest chambers of Morbosidad’s sadistic world. Combined with this is the excruciatingly bestial second album released in 2004, “Cojete a Dios Por El Culo.” Both of these albums helped lay the foundation for the Bestial Black Death movement that has since grown uncontrollably and is today spreading its putrid sickness throughout every piece of this rotten planet. No one who professes devotion to blasphemous underground bestial metal should be unfamiliar with these releases.

Hypothermia “Gråtoner” LP in stock

NWN is the official US distributor of Hypothermia “Gråtoner” LP released by Turannum.
New recording from this Swedish melancholic black metal band. The 180 gram heavy vinyl comes with 350 gram gatefold jacket and includes A3-poster.

Nocturnal Graves “Satan’s Cross” CD
ANTI-GOTH 082

After releasing some exceptional demos and a picture 7” since they formed in 2004, Nocturnal Graves at last release their first full length LP. An appropriate and honorable addition to the NWN! roster, Nocturnal Graves play searing and aggressive metal in the true Australian barbarian tradition. These songs are far from generic, however. The trio of marauders known as Nocturnal Graves creates maniacal deathrash untainted by all non-metal influences. All of the members are well known in the Australian scene and their professionalism and devotion to their demonic craft is apparent in every riff they have written for this album. In addition to the attention to detail paid to their songwriting, the band spent many hours in the studio to achieve flawless production. The end result is something similar in style and artistry to Ares Kingdom’s Return to Dust yet retaining some of the inherent bestiality that pervades the Australian scene. Ultimately, this is how deathrash should be played and recorded. All other inferior bands should take lessons from these masters.

Snakepit Mag #16 + Death Dealer 7″ Out Now

While webzines have almost exterminated what was known as fanzines back when Metal was damn strong and full of feeling, there’s still a few survivors that refuse to join the easy way, Snakepit magazine being one of those. Time for a new Metal strike with issue 16 having just been unleashed by the dogs of war! This new issue features as usual possibly the most in depth interviews you will ever read in the Metal scene with past Metallic heroes such as AFTERMATH, AGGRESSION (Canada), ANGUS, APOCALYPSE (U.K.), ARCHENEMY (The one and ONLY ARCHENEMY from L.A.!), CHEMIKILL, CYNIC, DEATH FORCE, DEATH STRIKE, DEVASTATION (IL), EXHORDER, FIRESTORM, HELL, JJ’S POWERHOUSE, LABEL SPECIAL (RAVE ON RECORDS!!), MASTER, SARDO, SCEPTRE, SINDROME, TRANSGRESSOR, VERMIN but also actual Metal heroes such as AGENT STEEL (possibly the most in depth feature ever done on them with original drummer Chuck Proffus!), CRUCIFIED MORTALS, FIRELAND, GAUNTLET, INFERNAL MAJESTY, HIBRIA, RAZOR (bassist Mike Campagnolo explains his return and more!), SEPTER, THRUSTOR and the legendary WITCHFINDER GENERAL!!! Over 106 pages filled with nothing but molten Metal, done by fans for fans!!!! And if it’s not enough to fulfil your appetite, there’s also a DEATH DEALER 2 song live 7” included available exclusively with this new issue. This Canadian Power Metal act were a leading band back in the mid ‘80s and were part of that new Metallic wave that invaded the world (EXCITER, ANVIL, RAPID TEARS, CULPRIT, JAG PANZER, WITCHKILLER, METALICA being some other names) but due to certain circumstances they never managed to achieve the success they deserved after the recording of two albums. Discover them again with those two exclusive live tracks recorded when the band was at its peak back in 1984!

Witchfinder General "buried amongst the ruins" LP+7" out next week
Sacriphyx "lone pine" 7" out in two weeks
Morbosidad new CD out in two weeks
Morbosidad new LP out in three weeks
Order From Chaos "stillbirth machine" LP out in five weeks
Order From Chaos "an ending in fire" LP out in five weeks
Ares Kingdom "firestorms and chaos" CD out in three weeks
Ares Kingdom zip up hoodie out in three weeks
Ignivomous TS out in three weeks
Morbosidad TS out in three weeks